Parking Lot Blues In Motor City

Colorado goalie Jose Theodore had to bail on his team last night because of the stomach flu. The unfortunate thing for the Avs is that Theodore told his coach that he was good to go before the game and then proceeded to stink out the joint before pulling the chute.

Not only did Theodore leave the game, but he was whisked off to his hotel through the back parking lot at Joe Louis Arena with GM Francois Giguere leading the way, leaving the Avs perilously close to dressing a forward or defenseman as a goalie if Peter Budaj somehow got himself injured. That didn't happen but the Avs fell short in their comeback against the Wings.

As Woody Paige of the Denver Post points out, the Avs have had some interesting times in the parking lot at the Joe over the years.

"The small, fenced, guarded parking area just outside the back door of Joe Louis Arena is reserved for the visiting team's bus. Two minutes into the second period Thursday night, the driver of the Avalanche's charter was onboard, and the motor was running. ...

What was I doing outside in the second period? Weird stuff happens with these two teams in the parking lot. One time in Denver, ex-Detroit coach Scotty Bowman got into a shouting match with Colorado's Claude Lemieux. After an Avs loss here another time, Roy, with his back against the concrete wall next to the bus, was consoled for a half hour by three teammates.

The parking lot was the place to be on Thursday night. At the end of the second period, Avs general manager Francois Giguere and Theodore hurried out the door, to a cab, not the bus. They didn't pause for questions."

- Denver Post